Well after last night’s astrophotography session with a 400mm f/5.6 lens, and 3× teleconverter, I decided to try again with an even longer optical system. I rummaged a 700mm f/11 telescope and used the same 3× teleconverter, for an effective focal length of 2.1m. This provided almost twice the magnification of last night’s setup, albeitContinue reading “Jupiter II”
Category Archives: Astronomy
Jupiter
Last night the sky was clear and I noticed that Jupiter was shining brightly. I decided to try and take a photo of it. Being so far away, and not having a proper telescope, this is the best I could manage. It’s blurry but it’s clearly recognisable as everyone’s second-favourite red planet 😉 If youContinue reading “Jupiter”
Crater face
Sorry, I’m running out of original titles for pictures of the moon. Last time I posted one, I said it was the best ever. This one is loads better, though. Composite of 4 frames, each shot at ISO800, 1/60s, f/11 on Canon 450D with Tokina 400mm f/5.6 lens and 3× teleconverter. Aligned and stacked withContinue reading “Crater face”
My best moon picture so far
Usually when it’s a clear night and the moon is out, I’ll have a go at photographing it. Last night there was actually a full moon and it was the first clear night in a week or two, so I got snapping. Technically, this is my best moon picture so far, using a Canon 450DContinue reading “My best moon picture so far”
Lenses for astrophotography – a comparison
I love photography, and I have an interest in astrophysics and astronomy. It only makes sense to combine them, and have fun with astrophotography. But which equipment is best for the beginner without breaking the bank? Let’s explore the options. Some interesting photographs can be captured using a wide-angle lens to view the whole sky,Continue reading “Lenses for astrophotography – a comparison”
Astrophotography and stacking software
I wrote a while back about software to generate star trails from a series of images of the sky. They are pretty and a fun and interesting form of art, but I wanted to have a go at taking photos of the night sky as it actually appears: still, and without trails. It’s pretty hardContinue reading “Astrophotography and stacking software”
The moon again
Yep, it’s the moon again – but this time through my new lens. It’s a Tokina 400mm f/5.6 prime for Canon FD mount, with 2× teleconverter, mounted on my Canon DSLR with a corrective adapter. For those who don’t know or care about lenses – this is my zoomiest lens so far. I also stackedContinue reading “The moon again”
Super-moon
Tonight is the “supermoon“, apparently. It’s the closest it’s been since 1992 and should look larger and brighter. Delving a little deeper into the numbers, it is only a small percentage closer and the effects probably won’t be visible to the naked eye, without some sort of measuring equipment. Whatever. We all know I loveContinue reading “Super-moon”
Stars in the sky
Sorry for the unoriginal post title – I’m trying to avoid having yet another post entitled stars at night, heavenly bodies, or anything else clichéd. In Bristol, the light pollution is pretty bad so I’ve been trying to find a decent compromise between somewhere away from street lights and somewhere that’s not a pain toContinue reading “Stars in the sky”
The moon in motion
These photos of the moon were taken three minutes apart each. It’s surprising how quickly the moon moves across the sky! I plan to revisit this idea when the moon is lower in the sky, and incorporate some trees or buildings
Jonathan Gazeley 